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Formal respite care services
You might have a range of respite options depending on where you live , how old your child is , what your child needs and what you want to get out of respite care . Many respite services including EBL have waiting lists , so it ’ s a good idea to plan ahead . EBL Disability Services has offered four main forms of respite for over 38 years . This includes :
Centre-based respite This is when your child stays at our Yarnbrook Cottages which is centre-based and often involves groups with similar interests . Our centre-based respite team also use Yarnbrook Cottages as a base to arrange group activities , meet for specific day outings and meet to head off on holiday programs or camps .
Community access ( or day respite ) This kind of respite gets your child involved in activities that can help them develop independent living and social skills . This could be a group in a community centre or a group who come together to venture out to enjoy activities of shared interest .
Short-term accommodation This is when your child stays at Yarnbrook Cottages which is considered a cottage-style respite house . It might be overnight or for a longer stay .
Emergency respite Most respite care services need to be booked in advance , but EBL Disability Services has a long history of providing emergency and short-term crisis care if you ’ re unexpectedly unable to care for your child – for example , if you ’ re ill .
Emergency respite care might be for a few hours , overnight or for several days or more .
Here ’ s how to find out about emergency respite care in your area :
• Call your local Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre on 1800 052 222 during business hours , or on 1800 059 059 for emergency respite support at other times .
• Contact the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 , Monday to Friday 8am-6pm .
Benefits of Respite
Relaxation Respite gives families peace of mind , helps them to relax , and renews their humor and energy ;
Enjoyment Respite allows families to enjoy favorite pastimes and pursue new interests and activities ;
Stability Respite improves the family ' s ability to cope with the daily responsibilities and maintain stability during crisis ;
Often , we hear the question , " Who takes care of the caregiver ?” Caregivers can include not only parents , but also brothers and sisters , grandparents , and extended family and friends . Respite gives the caregiver the opportunity to rest , or to take care of personal matters , to enjoy some personal time , and occasionally , to be relieved of the constant need to care for a child with a disability or chronic illness .
The person with a disability also benefits from respite care , gaining the opportunity to build new relationships and move toward independence . In many families , it is common for children to attend day care or after school care , interact with peers and adults outside the family , and stay with a child provider while the parents enjoy a night out . Respite provides these same opportunities for children with special needs .
For older individuals with a disability , respite care can assist in building skills needed for independent living . Since the most appropriate living situation for many adults with a disability is in a group home or other supported living environment , out-of-home respite care can enable families to test this option , explore community resources and prepare themselves and their family member with a disability for transition into adult-hood and living away from home .
Preservation
Involvement Time off Enrichment
Respite helps preserve the family unit and lessens the pressures that might lead to out-of-home placement , divorce , abuse and neglect ;
Respite allows a families time off to become involved in community activities and to feel less isolated Respite allows a family to take that much needed vacation , spend time together , or time alone , and
Respite makes it possible for family members to establish individual identifies and to enrich their own growth and development .
6 EBL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER